Teaching Your Toddler to Brush Her Own Teeth

For nearly two years, you've been the one holding the toothbrush. Now it's time to pass the torch and teach your toddler to brush his teeth by himself.

Ever since your little one cut his first teeth, you’ve probably been asking him to open wide while you brush his growing number of pearly whites. And by now he’s likely got the brushing routine down: He’s seen how you wet the toothbrush, he’s watched how much toothpaste you squeeze out, and he’s even improved his aim so that he spits into the sink (most of the time!). So at this point, you may be ready to pass the toothbrush and give your child the responsibility of scrubbing his own teeth.

But even if you’re ready to cede control of your toddler's tooth-brushing ritual morning and evening, your little one may not be so eager to go it alone. If he resists the change of guard, try these tricks to encourage your tot to brush his own teeth:

Let your toddler pick the supplies. Take your tot to the store and let him choose his own toothbrush and toothpaste with fluoride. A colorful character on the brush’s handle may not inspire you, but it might make all the difference in coaxing a toddler to brush his teeth. Let him pick the toothpaste too, so that he’s sure to like the flavor. Just be sure to monitor his schmear: The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends using a rice-sized amount of toothpaste for kids under 3 and a pea-sized amount for kids 3 to 6, to reduce the risk of fluorosis (white lines caused by too much fluoride).

Lower your expectations. Your child probably won’t be cleaning the gum lines or reaching into tiny crevices just yet. Don’t sweat it. These early lessons are as much about instilling the habit as they are about technique. The more practice he gets, the faster he’ll improve.

Take turns. If you’re really worried that your toddler’s teeth aren’t getting properly cleaned while he’s learning to take the reins, let him do the morning brushing session while you handle the evening one. That way, he’ll get practice brushing on his own in the a.m., but he’ll also get a reminder of your technique in the p.m. Nighttime is also a good opportunity for you to get him used to flossing once a day before brushing (unlike brushing, flossing is something you’ll want to do for him at this point).

Brush along with him. Join your toddler while he brushes his teeth: Having a little camaraderie might encourage him to take a little longer for a more thorough cleaning. Try stepping it up a notch by setting up a competition (Who can brush every tooth?).

Take a spin. Consider giving your child a battery-powered spin toothbrush. The novelty might coerce teeth brushing. Plus, there are some toothbrushes that play a song until it’s time to stop, or signal that two minutes are up by making a noise, encouraging your child to practice patience and get the job done right.

Find an ally. Ask the dentist to praise your child for brushing himself. Getting the thumbs-up from an authority in a white jacket will encourage your toddler to soldier on.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect the Second Year. Health information on this site is based on peer-reviewed medical journals and highly respected health organizations and institutions including ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), as well as the What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.